Importance

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Abstract

A composite catheter for in vivo fluid injection is provided in which a thin tube is located within the lumen of a conventional catheter. The thin tube has a small diameter inner passage for the in vivo injection of a fluid. The passage is accessible for fluid application at the exterior catheter end and passes through the catheter wall at a port in the lumen to the catheter exterior for fluid injection into the blood stream or elsewhere. A sensing device, such as a thermistor, is mounted on the catheter downstream of the port to measure changes in the properties of the fluid resulting from fluid injection for thermodilution applications. The space within the lumen insulates the fluid from the catheter environment and the small bore inner passage reduces resident fluid permitting small fluid injections that accommodate frequent injection measurements.

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First Claim